Description

Data Scientist SME – Automation Specialist (Adversary Disruption)

Mission Overview
We are seeking a Data Scientist Mission Automation SME to serve as an “Eminent Expert” in adversary disruption. Your goal is to transform manual processes into automated mission sets through rapid-prototype development. As a Technical Closer, you will guide and mentor a senior technologist to optimize queries and build the mission-critical pipelines that allow the command to operate at “wire speed.”

Core Technical Requirements

• Automation Tooling: Mastery of Ansible, SaltStack, and GitLab CI/CD for mission-critical pipeline automation.
• SOAR Engineering: Technical closing of complex playbooks within Splunk Phantom or Cortex XSOAR to automate adversary disruption.
• Agentic AI Frameworks: Scaling network defense using LangGraph, CrewAI, or AutoGPT.
• Scripting: Professional-grade mastery of Python, Go, and PowerShell for rapid automation development.
• Mission Orchestration: Ability to build custom API integrations for unified mission systems like TACMS, or Maven Smart System.

Preferred Certifications & Experience

• Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA), AWS DevOps Engineer – Professional, or HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Associate.
• Military Equivalency: Documented CMF Work Role Certification (Interactive Operator or Host Analyst) or 170A/17A technical leadership in OCO/DCO operations.

Years of Experience

• Total Experience: 12–15+ years in IT/Cybersecurity or Data Science.
• Specialized Experience: At least 5–7 years specifically in automation, DevSecOps, or “Hands on Keyboard” (HOK) operations within the Intelligence Community (IC) or Department of Defense (DoD).
• Leadership: 3+ years of technical mentorship or “Team Lead” experience, as the role requires guiding senior technologists.

Educational Background

• Minimum: A Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Preferred: A Master’s degree or PhD in a quantitative field (AI, Machine Learning, or Computational Engineering). The “Data Scientist” title often implies a strong grasp of advanced mathematics and algorithmic optimization beyond standard scripting.

Clearance Requirement

• TS/SCI with CI Poly required

If you’re looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We’re not hiring followers. We’re recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We’re already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

May 8, 2026

Pay Range:

Pay Range $154,050.00 – $278,475.00

The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That’s why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Securing Your Data

Beware of fake employment opportunities using Leidos’ name. Leidos will never ask you to provide payment-related information during any part of the employment application process (i.e., ask you for money), nor will Leidos ever advance money as part of the hiring process (i.e., send you a check or money order before doing any work). Further, Leidos will only communicate with you through emails that are generated by the Leidos.com automated system – never from free commercial services (e.g., Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail) or via WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. If you received an email purporting to be from Leidos that asks for payment-related information or any other personal information (e.g., about you or your previous employer), and you are concerned about its legitimacy, please make us aware immediately by emailing us at LeidosCareersFraud@leidos.com.

If you believe you are the victim of a scam, contact your local law enforcement and report the incident to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.